The World Cup is almost here! We are used to the national team's training camp and to playing a lot of games in many different cities before any tournament. I think we did a very good job. The team worked hard in practice to learn concepts in the first week and after that, we were happy — and ready — to start playing games. We played well in general terms, not so well at some moments, but that is also good, in order to know what we have to improve. I think that the team will be in a good moment when the World Cup starts.

Latvian champion BK Ventspils added depth to its backcourt by signing guard Kristaps Kanbergs to a two-year deal on Tuesday. Kanbergs (1.90 meters, 26 years old) arrives from BK Jelgava where he spent the past four years. Last season he averaged 14.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.2 steals in 36 Latvian League games. Kanbergs grew up with Ventspils, and helped it to a title in 2009. "We wanted to bring Kristaps last year, but it could not be done because of his contract”, said Ventspils President Ralph Pleinics. “He was with us in 2008-09 season, when the club managed to win its eighth Latvian title. Kristaps was only 21 years back then, and his role was far from what we plan for him in the next two seasons."

Hapoel Jerusalem ensured that promising forward Rafi Menco will be one of the pillars of the club’s future by signing the player to a four-year contract extension on Monday. Menco (1.98 meters, 20 years old) appeared in 14 Eurocup games off the bench last season. He captained Israel to a seventh-place finish at this summer’s Under-20 European Championships with team highs of 14.4 points and 6 rebounds per game. Menco will play the 2014-15 campaign on loan at fellow Israeli club Gilboa Galil to acquire more playing time and experience before returning to Jerusalem next summer.

VEF Riga continues getting ready for the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds by inking point guard Gerald Robinson to a one-year deal on Monday. Robinson (1.85 meters, 24 years old) arrives from Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa, where he averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 28 Israeli League games last season, during which he also helped his team reach the Balkan League final. Robinson has also played for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgium, since finishing his career at the University of Georgia (NCAA). He will try to help VEF Riga reach the Euroleague for the first time in club history.

Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar added depth to its roster for its return to the Eurocup, announcing the deal with forward Nikita Balashov on Monday morning. Balashov (2.07 meters, 23 years old) arrives from Khimki Moscow Region where in 12 Eurocup games he averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds, while posting 2.7 points per game in the VTB United League. Young forward who grew up with Dynamo Moscow has previously also spent two seasons with Krasnye Krylia Samara in his native Russia.